Chapter 2

For five days straight, Ethan didn't reply to my messages. Finally, I couldn't wait any longer and went to look for him.

With the Preston Group contract officially signed, my own company’s operations had stabilized. It was time to settle things with him. But before that, I made a quick stop at the hospital.

Ethan and I had been married for five years without kids. We did annual checkups.

The results had always been disappointing. Ethan was the one with fertility issues, so no matter how hard I tried, it was useless.

But to protect his fragile ego, I never exposed him. He never brought it up either, always claiming his tests were perfect.

Because of our lack of children, my mother-in-law had given me endless grief and dirty looks over the years.

But today's test results shocked me.

Ethan had actually recovered.

Half an hour later, I sat on a bench outside the hospital, the doctor's words echoing in my ears.

"Mr. Carter fully recovered six months ago. A month ago, he brought a young girl here for a full prenatal screening."

"You're his assistant, right? You should expect some good news from them very soon."

I felt a sudden wave of disgust wash over me.

Ethan had gone behind my back to have a baby, making it seem like I was the barren one!

For five years, he stood by and watched his mother humiliate me, and when he finally got cured, he didn't tell me. Instead, he found someone else to knock up!

My decision to leave him was the best choice I had ever made.

I crumpled the test results into a ball, threw them into the trash can, and headed to his company dressed in my best power suit.

When I arrived at the office, I could hear loud laughter coming from the open workspace from down the hall. Someone even mentioned my name. I slowed my pace and listened.

"Mr. Carter is so generous! He took you all the way to Hokkaido, and he even got you that massive diamond ring! Vivian never got a rock that big!"

"Really? I don't know much about those things," Chloe giggled, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "I just know Ethan said I deserve the absolute best, and he’ll give me whatever I want!"

Chloe was admiring the diamond ring on her finger, a smug grin plastered across her face. The staff members were crowded around her, kissing her ass. In the months I was away, she had clearly made herself the queen of the office.

Everyone was so busy flattering her that no one noticed me walking in.

It wasn't until I stood right in front of her that Chloe’s smile froze. But she quickly recovered, flashing me a triumphant smirk. "Vivian! You're here. Look what Ethan got me. Isn't it gorgeous?"

She held her hand up, flaunting the massive diamond right in my face.

I raised an eyebrow. "It’s nice. I saw this design when I was in Paris. It’s worth about $400,000. But you owe me $200,000."

"What do you mean?"

"You're a side chick spending marital assets. Legally, half of that belongs to me. Pay up."

"Vivian, you must have forgotten," Chloe mocked, looking at me condescendingly. "You signed a prenup. None of Ethan's money is considered marital assets!"

She laughed in my face. I remained calm. "Ah, thank you for reminding me. It really isn't marital property. However..."

"However what?" She sneered. "Stop bluffing, Vivian. Ethan told me he's sick of an old woman like you. You couldn't even give him a child in five years. He’s been done with you!"

"He said looking at your crow's feet every day makes him want to throw up. But I'm different. I can give him—"

"Slap!"

I delivered a hard slap right across her face, leaving her cheek instantly swollen and red.

"You can give him a lot of things, but you will never take my place. Tell Ethan I’m waiting in the conference room. If he isn’t here in ten minutes, I’ll leak all of his company’s client databases to his competitors!"

If he wanted a war, I’d give him one.